‘I want someone to write a book about my life story’

I have a really lovely, but challenging, life story book project coming up.

A family has commissioned me to help write a life story book for their father. The family is keen to record his life story, and he is eager to tell his story. He has attempted to write his story many times, but while he has a few sections of his story already written there are many chapters worth of wonderful stories and family history that his family do not yet know about.

He and his family know that without help his stories may well become lost and with a significant birthday looming, his family have asked me to help, and so, I was delighted to help with this meaningful 90th birthday gift.

At the beginning of every project, I start with a few conversations over the phone. I find out if there is anything specific that the family would like included, and I talk to my storyteller about their life.

My lovely storyteller and I have spoken, and he has also sent me the piece that he has already written; a beautiful account of living, working and travelling through Southern Africa with a young family in the 60s. I will interweave his writing with the new material, so all is good so far. 

Dominion Monarch, Shaw Savill and Albion's cargo and one-class passenger liner makes ready to depart on a voyage to South Africa Australia and New Zealand in the summer of 1960.

So, what’s the problem?

My storyteller is in his nineties, he has lived a big and interesting life. He has a lot of stories that he would like to share and his family should know about, but how do we capture his life in only two hours?

Well, that is my challenge, and I am enjoying it so far.

So, when next someone says to you: ‘I want someone to write my life story,’ give me a shout!

If you wish to record a life story, long or short, drop me an email alice@thestorykeepers.co.uk and we can chat and see if I can help!

Alice